SSG Eric Caban

19 July 2006, Afghanistan

Special Forces

A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Staff Sergeant Eric Caban died on 19 July 2006 in southern Afghanistan while supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

Caban enlisted in the Army in 1997 and served with 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis, Washington. He left active duty in 2002 but returned to service in 2003 and completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2006.

SSG Caban was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as an Engineer Sergeant when his combat reconnaissance patrol encountered enemy forces on 18 July and he sustained injuries from small arms fire.